Il Mare

I just recently bought a Video CD Copy of the Korean film Il Mare (Siworae), starring Jeon Ji-Hyun and Lee Jung-Jae. I was actually intrigued by the movie at first, since a lot of Hallyu Fans rave about the Movie, claiming that it is one of the BEST Hallyu Movies to date.

During the down time at work yesterday, I plopped the CD in my CD-ROM and started to play the movie. In just a matter of a few minutes, I found myself getting drawn into the movie plot.

The movie starts on Christmas 1999 with Kim Eun-Joo (Jeon Ji-Hyun) writing a Christmas Card to the future occupants of the house she was vacating. In her Card, she asked if they (the future occupants) could just forward her mail to her new address in the City. In the next scene, Han Sung-Hyun (Lee Jung-Jae) moves into the house that we saw Eun-Joo vacate earlier. He opens up the mailbox and sees the Card that Eun-Joo left.

Sung-Hyun finds the letter odd as it was dated on Christmas 1999. It turns out that Sung-Hyun is living in the year 1997. Sung-Hyun and Eun-Joo exchange several letters and find themselves in a friendship that transends space and time.

As the story unfolds, you could not help but feel the multitude of emotions that flow through the screen. It made me weep, laugh, smile and sigh. It was just so powerful.

I am not wondering why Hollywood has bought the rights to the movie, at all. The Hollywood version of Il Mare will star Keanu Reeves as Alex Burnham and Sandra Bullock as Kate Forster and it is slated to be shown in 2006. Production for the Hollywood version is already underway, and I cannot wait to see how Hollywood interprets this beautifully powerful movie. I just hope they do not butcher it with too much Hollywood Hype.

To those who are just starting to get into Hallyu, I strongly suggest you watch this film. It is excellent! On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 9.4! Watch it!

FAMAS Night

Last Sunday, June 26, my brother, my parents and I went to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to witness the 53rd Filipino Academy Of Movie Arts & Sciences (FAMAS) Awards Night. It's a first for me to be Officially Invited to such big Entertainment Event. Hobnobbing with the stars, dressing up to the nines and enjoying the festivities was marvelous!

The highlight of my evening was chatting away with my good friend, one of the most talented actresses in the Philippine Entertainment Industry, Snooky Serna. Ate Cookie, as I call her, came in half-way through the Awards Ceremony and seated across the aisle from where we were seated. She was wearing a simple, yet beautiful Orange Gown. She presented awards for the Celebrity Clans.

It had been a long time since we last spoke, but it always seems like yesterday. We would always pick up where we dropped off. We've never talked about Showbiz stuff. We always talked about what was going on in our lives (except for the rumours going around about her and her family). It's always so refreshing to talk to her. She's just a sweetheart! She's so thoughtful and very accommodating, unlike most Celebrities nowadays.

We exchanged numbers and promises to see each other again once we have time. She might drop by our house soon to see my Mom for some treatments (my Mom's a Dermatologist). I just hope I can also make time when she swings by.

The FAMAS Night is a memory I would cherish, not because I saw a lot of Celebrities, but because it paved the way for me to see my Ate Cookie again. It's just so nice to see and talk to her again.

Caught In The Korean Wave

In the last few months, I have been engulfed and overwhelmed by the Korean Wave. Those who know me, know that when I am passionate about something, I tend to go all out. And now, my idle time is used for my fascination for anything, and everything Korean.

I have a really long list of favorite Korean Actors and Actresses, who are not even minutely familiar to a great majority of my friends and family. They do not even know what movies or series these Actors and Actresses starred in! They get puzzled and disoriented when I start talking about them! Names like Choi Ji-Woo, Bae Yong-Joon, Park Yong-Ha, Kwon Sang-Woo, Kim Rae-Won, Kim Tae-Hee, Lee Byung-Hun, Song Seung-Hun, Moon Geun-Young, Kim Eugene, Song Hye-Gyo, Kim Seung-Soo, Lee Hyo-Ri, Yoon Jung-Hoon, Han Ji-Hye and Lee Dong-Gun, sounds alien to them... And those are just some of the Biggest Names in the Korean Wave that is currently sweeping across Asia.

The playlist in my computer includes a lot of K-Pop Music and OSTs from my Favorite K-Dramas.

I even learned how to read and write Hanggul (the Korean Alphabet). I know some words as well, mostly from the Korean Learning Websites. The K-Dramas and Movies I watch also help me learn more Korean Words. I am currently looking for a Language School that teaches Korean, so that I could be conversant in Korean.

Hopefully, I don't outgrow my K-Wave Phase, 'coz it really helps me get over the depressing silence I experience on a daily basis.

Hallyu is here to stay!

In Debt...

A lot of things have changed in these past months, but one thing's for sure, I still don't have any money! Hahaha! Poor me! I still have not saved any of my earnings!

I don't know how I've managed to accumulate such a hefty debt! What it all boils down to, is my Gym Membership! Actually, its my Brother's Gym Membership that's costing me a lot of money!

You see, being the good, big sister that I am (Jeeze! Am I tooting my own horn or what?!?), I allowed my brother to use my card so that it will automatically debit his Gym Membership. Unfortunately, my brother does not pay me back. Okay, so he did pay me some, but he is still about PhP5000.00 behind in payments. And, poor me, I am left to pay for the interest charges, etc!

Another unfortunate incident, that is within the realm of my financial woes, is the loss of my wallet. Okay, so I've lost 2 wallets in a span of 3 months, but the thing that really bugged me, was the fact that the last wallet I lost had approximately US$500.00 in it! Bites, huh?!? What bites more is that it was stolen over the Holy Week in my LOCKED Drawer! I am slowly believing that people, nowadays, have zero conscience!

To try and forget the loss of my wallet, I went with my Parents and my Uncle and Aunt to Boracay. I had to drown my sorrows in the Pristine White Sands of Boracay! I just had to! But Boracay is another story...

Right now, I'm stressed out from work, and my brain is not functioning as well. Maybe after my Fontana Weekend, I could be de-stressed. *Sigh*

Lovin' The Smiths

I just got back to the office from watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith for the second time, and I had another fantastic time!

Like what I've written previously, I have a certain fascination for Angelina Jolie (who in their right mind wouldn't?!?). I friggin' loved her! My fascination for that goddess has escalated to epic proportions! She's just... Arrggghh! Perfect!

I couldn't help but fall head over feet for her when she danced in that scene in Bogota, with Brad. She exudes sexiness beyond comprehension.

And her chemistry with Brad Pitt... ELECTRIC! It's more than electric... It's a burning, intensifying, Firebolt! It's more intense than that explosion that wrecked the Smith Home! Those who think otherwise, would be the densest people ever!

I wouldn't blame Brad if he really fell for Angie. The attraction and compatibility is obviously there. And Angie is a girl who's just beyond compare. She's got it all: Talent, Brains, Beauty and Heart.

I may be biased, but I don't care about the Brad-Angelina thing. Angelina is just a victim of malicious and vicious press, and she deserves more than that.

Love that Smith Couple...

On a scale of 1 to 10... They're a 9.99! (Gotta watch it again!)

No Pain... No Gain.

So, the saying is true... No Pain, No Gain.

My lower body has been sore for the last 2 days, since the first day I worked out with my trainer, Ted. My butt feels painfully tight, my inner thighs make me want to scream in pain whenever I walk, and my triceps are just plain killing me!

Oh! The price of being unfit! Boohoo! But I hope, with some more patience, consistency, sacrifices and discipline, I can achieve my goal and have a perfect Summer! Lol!

Today, I noticed something different in me. I felt more comfortable on the Stairmaster the longer I am on that thing! I used to hate the Stairmaster with a passion, but today, I was starting to like it. Maybe with a few more sessions, I would be able to love it more.

I started working on my abs today. I can't believe how painful it is to do Leg-Lifts and Crunches the right way! Again, say it with me... "No Pain, No Gain!" A little more patience and discipline, Elaine... You wanted this!

Tomorrow, my mom and I are going swimming in the Gym. I will do my Cardio Marathon first, then swim with my mom. I am giving her a Guest Pass to the Gym to encourage her to workout as well. Hopefully, we could be gym buddies in the future, along with my Uncle and my Brother!

Here's to a New Year for Fitness!

Being Fit

I just had my first One-on-One Session with my Personal Trainer today. I knew that I was not fit, but I didn't know how bad I was until I worked out today.

In just 30 minutes, I learned that my triceps and my shoulder muscles were not strong enough, and that my thighs need strengthening as well. Though these muscles were weak, I found out that my biceps were in good condition (though it could be in a much better shape).

I love my new gym. It keeps me very motivated, especially with my trainer. I also can swim in the heated pool upstairs! It's such a blast! I know I can hit my goals in the next few months because of all the motivation I've been getting.

Wish me luck! I will update you guys about how I'm doing, very soon!

Hmmm...

Okay, okay... I've been a bit slack again with my BLOG Entries! Sue me!

I've been really busy after the holidays that I virtually didn't have enough time for myself. I sleep less than 8 hours every night and I have been bogged by my migraines.

Speaking of migraines, I finally had the courage to see a Neurologist, who diagnosed my condition and prescribed a series of medication for me to take. One of prescribed medicines is the drug, Celebrex, which has been studied to have caused serious side effects (like Hypertension, Stroke, Irregular Heartbeat, Convulsions, Heart Attacks, etc.) to those who have tried the drug. Why would I risk having all those side effects just to ease my migraine, right? So, instead of putting myself in further risk, I just chose to take the prophylactic medicine, which was the Primary medication prescribed anyway.

I'm now on my 21st day of taking Sibelium (the Prophylactic Drug I was talking about), and I am on the 21st day of being migraine-free. Although, I still get minor headaches, I do not have numbing ones anymore.

What else is new with me? Hmmm...

Well, I am on the road to self-discovery. I am also on the road to digging deeper into who I really am. It is a constant struggle, but I hope that in time, I will learn to embrace who I really am. I just hope everyone else will learn to embrace the REAL Me as well.

For now, that's all I could think of. I do promise, however, that I will be updating my BLOG more often than I have previously done. Just pray that I will have more time to do so. Wish me luck!

Christmas Greetings

To Everyone who visits my BLOG...

I wish you and your families a Very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Safe, Prosperous and Blessed NEW YEAR!

Love and Reincarnation

Yesterday, my sister, Pam, picked me up from work since she was on her way home from accompanying our Grandmother. We had to pass by the Alabang Town Center to pick up some baked goodies that our Mom ordered from the Ilustrado. Since it was still quite early, I invited my sister to watch a movie at the Cinemas of the Alabang Town Center.

There are only 5 Cinemas at the ATC, so our choices were limited. I wasn't in any mood to watch The Polar Express or National Treasure, nor was I even minutely interested in watching Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason. I was left with no choice but to watch Nicole Kidman's Movie, Birth.

I admired and saw several movies of Nicole Kidman, and each time, she never ceases to amaze me. This movie is not an exception. It was one of her "different" movies. It wasn't as "Commercial" as Commercial Movies go. It had soul and depth. Most importantly, it made me think.

Could Love really transcend Time, Space and the After-Life? Could Love ever be that strong? Could one truly believe in a Love that Reincarnates through another person who can easily pass as your child? How would I handle such a situation? Would I choose to dwell in a previous, but enduring Love, or would I move on and Love another?

The movie was unlike any Dramatic or Romantic Movie I have seen. It was laced with a shady, dark mood. The usual heaviness of a Drama, and the etherealness of a Romantic Movie is shrouded by a sense of doubt, uncertainty, hesitancy and even absurdity. And yet you can definitely feel a slight tug in your heart, that urges you to believe that the Love between the Young Sean (Cameron Bright) and Anna (Nicole Kidman) is real. And that the Young Sean, is the REAL Reincarnation of Anna's beloved Husband, Sean.

Birth is also unlike most Commercial Movies that build up on the plot and follows this up with an explosive and definitive climax. Birth leaves you wanting more, concluding the film with an Open Ending, without giving a definite closure to the storyline.

My sister and I had different interpretations and views on the movie. We were even arguing on the ending, since we both had different evaluations on how the story closed.

The story, the plot and the questions still linger in my mind. The "What If's" still floats in my subconscious. Answers to the questions may forever stay unanswered, but who knows?